Rapid quantitative analysis with low matrix effects of capsaicin in various samples by thermal desorption carbon fiber ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

It is difficult to conduct rapid quantitative studies by direct analysis of mass spectrometry because of the matrix effects. In order to overcome the matrix effects in rapid quantitative analysis of complex sample and to find a rapid mass spectrometry method for capsaicin quantitation, the thermal desorption carbon fiber ionization mass spectrometry (TD-CFI-MS) was developed and optimized. TD-CFI-MS allows timesaving, less cost, less solvent consumption and no auxiliary gas. In this method the metal ceramics heater (MCH) was used for analyte desorption. The protonated water clusters in carbon fiber ion source provided proton for analytes through ion-molecular interactions. Desorption and ionization processes were separated in time and space so the analyte was less affected by the matrix during ionization, and the signal intensity of the analyte was enhanced. The matrix effects were investigated by the quantitative analysis of capsaicin in various samples using TD-CFI-MS, and the results were within 93.3–97.6% which indicated that almost no significant effects on the quantitation of capsaicin by this method. Finally, TD-CFI-MS was successfully applied for the quantitation of capsaicin in various real samples including foods and medicines indicating that this technique was a valuable strategy.